Monday, February 23, 2009

Winter Doldrums

Yuck. This is the time of year that I really start to dislike things. Call it cabin fever, or something. It just seems like everything suddenly becomes old, shabby, dirty and boring. Maybe it's seasonal affective disorder.
I love all the seasons for different reasons. I don't really have a favorite. But, you know that feeling you get when you're tired of something? That's what I have BIG TIME. I love winter, the crisp clean white snow, fireside memories, Christmas, the freshness and sharp bite to the air, winter comfort food. But, along about March I get the blahs. Hate the snow, which is now dirty gray, the dead brown grass poking through, the pollution in the air that makes you cough, let down of the holiday season gone by, cold that gets into your bones and makes you hurt worse, the smell of dirt and decay, and the heavy food that makes you long for summer salads and lemonade.
I love spring for the new green plants poking through, daffodils and crocuses, tulips and hyacinths. Baby animals, Easter, trees coming back to life, warm rain, airing out the house and working in my garden and feeling the soil and smelling the new earth. I love summer for the bright blue skies, long days, green growing things, fresh tomatoes off the vine, barbecues, fireworks and fresh mowed grass. I love fall for the harvest, fire colors in the trees and across the mountain sides, canning fruits, apple pie with fresh apples, new school supplies, the smell of crayons.
Now, I long for spring. I find myself anxiously surveying my flower beds, willing the crocus to peek through. I get excited that the limbs of the trees have buds and growth. I want to see the "Daffydowndillies" coming up, see the grass spotted with green shoots. I want to see the roses unfurl their leaves, the daisies start to poke through. I want to see the baby chicks, the new calves at the farm by Mom and Dad's, taste the strawberries, plant the peas and pole beans. I want blue skies without the smog, to see the mountains without the haze, to take my kids to the park and let them run wild in the fresh air. I want to smell the lilacs, the lilies of the valley. Sigh.
Life is wild and crazy, par for the golf course of our mortal probation, I suppose. The kids got the cold crap for a few weeks. Sam had to get five freakin' cavities filled. Thank goodness for sedation dentistry. Jake passed with flying colors, no "holes", yay! He's still is into everything. Miley is crawling, pulling up on things. We had to remove the bassinet out of her play yard and drop her mattress in her crib. Here's some pictures of her, I can't believe how fast she's growing up!




There are some changes coming for us, but I can't go into detail right now. Suffice it to say they are good changes, so don't worry. (And no, no new little Fords on the horizon, do ya think I'm nuts?!?)

Monday, February 2, 2009

HEY EVERYBODEEE!

Sorry, I was channeling Grover there for a minute.
Hey out there, all my wonderful, handsome, beautiful, kind, funny sweet friends and family, PLEASE PLEASE add your name to the Followers over there...on the side...look...that's it...no up...yeah right there! We would REALLY LOVE IT if you would so we can see that we're not just doing this for our health! You don't have to be a blogger, just add in anonymously, okay? That way we can know who's actually blog stalking us! Thank you thank you! (I'll make you cookies ;-)!)

Happy Birthday Jake!



A little while ago we celebrated Jacob's third birthday! Wow! Time goes so fast, it seems not very long ago he was the scrawny little baby we brought home on a cold winter's day. He was four weeks early, the day after my doctor said "Nothing's happening." (Yeah, right.) I guess he was just in too much of a hurry to be with Sam, and he's more than made up for the 15 months they spent on opposite sides of heaven! He is truly a joy most days, an outright pill others, but he's always charming, sweet and continuously amazing! I asked him some questions this year to document his likes and dislikes and these are the answers he gave (Jakeisms included):

Favorite color: "orrige but sometimes green"
Favorite food: "hot dog hot dog hot diggity dog! oh, anna pizza, yeah!"
Favorite TV show: "Ferb!" (Phineas and Ferb on Disney)
Favorite movie: "ummmm, diggers and trains." (He got some DVDs of construction vehicles and trains for his birthday)
Favorite snack: "Candy"
Favorite game "Shekers" (Checkers) and "Superharolds" (Superheroes)
Favorite friend: "Sam and Brookin"
Favorite toy: "Sam's red truck" and "Workbench"
Favorite story: "Birdie finds the Mom" (Are you my Mother?)
Favorite school activity: "Painting"
Favorite primary song: "Snowman song"
Favorite thing to do: "Go outside" and "baths"

Dislikes: getting up early, bedtime, haircuts, icky dinners, picking up toys, listening, sharing, being told no.

We took the boys to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday, which they just loved. Can't say the same for the grown-ups, but hey, the kids had a good time and we got to make some memories besides. After that we came home and had presents and cake. I made the cake to look like a dirt pile with some construction trucks in it, I thought it turned out pretty well!

Happy Birthday Bug! We love you!